The band finished 7th in the overall Grand National Finals. "This is the big game for high school bands," said KMHS Director of Bands David McGrath. "It's the Super Bowl."

They were awarded 1st place Class AAA followed by Franklin HS, Tennessee, Bellevue West HS, Nebraska. "We're blessed with really great kids, a really great administration, staff and supportive parents. So it's a pretty special place," McGrath said.

The band had to perform twice before making the finals on Saturday when the awards were announced. "It was thrilling just to see the look on the kids' faces and to know that all the hours, the hundreds and hundreds of hours they put in this year, had paid off," McGrath said.

"It was the best thing ever knowing that my complete dedication to this program for the past four years and all the hours and all the time really paid off," said senior drum major Colette Wink.

Senior color guard Jenni Cosler said the band felt confident after their final performance. "It's one of the most emotional things and one of the more scary things I've ever gone through," she said.

"We've made finals every single time we've gone, so understanding that tradition and knowing we had to maintain that tradition was a big weight on the shoulders," said senior trumpet player Max Plasket.

The band also won all three captions within Class AAA. They won Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance and Outstanding General Effect. "I don't know that the reality for many of them has even sunk in yet," McGrath said.